DATABASE TERMS AND SKILLS TO KNOW Database - Software application that helps manage large collections of information in an organized manner.
Boolean Operators – Connecting terms such as AND, OR, NOT that can often be used in keyword searches to refine search criteria. Click here for an interactive demonstration of how Boolean operators work.
Connectors
And - Used to connect ALL criteria being searched for
Or - Used to search for ANY of the criteria being searched for
Not - Used to exclude criteria
Entry - Data that is entered in a field.
Field - A place in a database record where a category of information can be entered or located.
Field Type - Identifies the type of data in a particular field such as whole number, decimal number, money, text, etc.
File - A set of related records in a database.
Record (Row) - A collection of related field and entries
Multiple Criterion Filter: A database operation that displays records that meet several criteria simultaneously such as finding records that are more than 10 but less than 50.
Match - using a formula to search/find specific criteria given in a question using one or more of the following:
connectors - and, or
operators - words/symbols
Examples:
No more than <
At least >
Operators: Mathematical symbols used in database filters
(>) greater than
(<) less than
(=) equal to
(>) greater than or equal to
(<) less than or equal to When searching/filtering for text, it is often best to use the "contains" operator. This will allow you to key in the first several identifying letters, but not the whole word or words.
Relationship -- The comparison of two pieces of information using logical operators: less than (<), greater than (>), equals (=), less than or equal to (=<), greater than or equal to (=>). Other comparison terms to look for are “at most,” meaning less than or equal to, and “at least,” which translates as equal to or greater than.
Search/Query -- The process of finding all records of a database that meet a certain rule, statement, or criterion. A search may be based on a single statement, rule, or criterion, or a combination of statements, rules, and criteria joined by AND, OR, and AND/OR. This process is also called a query or match in some database software programs.
Sort -- Arranging information in a specific order (usually ascending and descending).
Ascending order: method of sorting data in order from lowest to highest (A-Z) or numerical order (0-9)
Descending order: the opposite of ascending order. Example: Reverse alphabetical order
(Z-A) or reverse numerical is high to low (9-0).
Template - A pattern or form that is used repeatedly for each record in a database file. When creating a database, the template is the blank form that come up each time you add a new record to the database file.
Wildcard: A character in a search that permits any character to be specified. For example, the search criteria al* will find Alabama, already, or Albert. Ion a database search, the asterisk (*) is the wildcard character to replace one or more letters; the question mark (?) is the wildcard character to replace only one letter.
Database - Software application that helps manage large collections of information in an organized manner.
(>) greater than
(<) less than
(=) equal to
(>) greater than or equal to
(<) less than or equal to When searching/filtering for text, it is often best to use the "contains" operator. This will allow you to key in the first several identifying letters, but not the whole word or words.
(Z-A) or reverse numerical is high to low (9-0).
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Database Resources - Smartboard lessons, PowerPoint Lessons, Online Resources, and Games to help you learn about and teach databases.